Lifestyle and mental health determinants of menstrual cycle regularity: A scoping review for sustainable women's health
TL;DR
Lifestyle and psychological factors are consistently associated with menstrual cycle regularity, highlighting potential targets for reproductive health promotion and future longitudinal research.
Abstract
Menstrual cycle regularity reflects reproductive health and is influenced by modifiable lifestyle and psychological factors. This scoping review mapped current evidence on lifestyle-related determinants of menstrual disorders among women of reproductive age. A scoping review was conducted following PRISMA-ScR. Scopus, Wiley Online Library, and EBSCO host were searched for studies published between 2021-2025. Data were extracted independently by two reviewers and synthesized thematically. Ten studies met the eligibility criteria. Three themes emerged: psychological determinants, sleep-related determinants, and other lifestyle determinants. Psychological stress, depressive symptoms, sleep disturbances, insomnia, short sleep duration, and late bedtime were consistently associated with menstrual irregularity, while limited evidence supported associations with physical activity and alcohol consumption. These determinants appear to converge through shared neuroendocrine pathways involving the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian axis, circadian regulation, and metabolic homeostasis. Lifestyle and psychological factors are consistently associated with menstrual cycle regularity, highlighting potential targets for reproductive health promotion and future longitudinal research.